Time to Turn the Calendar Page

The phrase “Time to…” appears everywhere, from everyday conversation to advertising, politics, wellness, the written word – and anything in between.
To begin a sentence with “Time to…” turns simple words into a call to action or reflection.
It marks a turning point: something must now begin or come to an end.

In the coming year, I will approach our theme by exploring topics that reflect my life.
Time that has passed, the present time, and the time to come. It is all about moments when one senses that it is “Time to…”.
True to the way I like to make art, I will approach this theme through poetry.

January, the present month, and the beginning of a new year, is the starting point for
“Time to Turn the Calendar Page”.
Where I live, this is the darkest and coldest time of the year. The days are short, and everything is covered in snow and ice.
Nevertheless – or perhaps precisely because the surroundings are not so hospitable at this time of year – by turning a new page, both in the calendar and metaphorically, a new year offers a fresh start and the hope of something good, or better, to come.

“Time to Turn the Calendar Page” is inspired by the poem “Promise” by the Scottish poet Jackie Kay.
The poem starts with these words:

“Remember, the time of year
when the future appears
like a blank sheet of paper
a clean calendar, a new chance.”

“Time to Turn the Calendar Page” is freemotion appliquéd, freemotion quilted, and hand embroidered.
The paper blowing in the wind has Inktense paint applied along its edges.

All the pieces in this series include elements of old lace. The use of lace crocheted by women in my family many years ago is my way of connecting the whole series to time past.
If you look closely at “Time to Turn the Calendar Page”, you will notice that the lace with the pointed edge is, in fact, unfinished. In a way, I have now completed what one of my ancestors began long ago.